South Melbourne, VIC
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Melbourne, VIC
1 Image

Melbourne, VIC
8 Images

Melbourne, VIC
1 Image

Melbourne, VIC
1 Image

When it comes to lunch in the Melbourne CBD, there are far too many boring, dodgy, questionable offerings for our liking. Seriously, who wants to eat a soggy salad or crusty sandwich under the harsh lights of a city food court? Ummm, not us that’s for sure!

That’s why we thought it was only fair to share with you five Melbourne CBD lunch spots that we’re loving right now – all with fast and friendly service, and more importantly, super delicious and filling food. You can thank us later!

Simply Spanish

With their delicious tapas and AMAZING paella, it’s little wonder that Simply Spanish on Bourke Street is one of our favourite Melbourne CBD lunch spots. The city outpost of Simply Spanish (they’re also located at Queen Vic Market and in South Melbourne) has a great buzz come lunchtime, making it the perfect spot to tuck into some hearty Spanish food with friends. When it comes to paella, you can order the traditional Provincial Big Pan Paella, or for some a little more fancy, one of the mouthwatering Gourmet Paellas. Either way, as long as you finish your lunch with some churros then you’re all good!

Touché Hombre

Located right opposite QV, Touché Hombre is another Melbourne CBD lunch spot that we’re loving right now. All your Mexican favourites are dished up here, from tacos and tostadas, to nachos, ribs and more. It’s Touché Hombre’s brilliant lunch deal that gets our vote though; from 12 – 4pm you get to sink your fangs into any one of their El Rapido Burritos (chicken, pork belly, grilled fish, or mushroom) for only $10 each! Seriously, if that’s not one of the best cheap eats in Melbourne then we don’t know what is! If you’re after something a little more hearty, try the business lunch – one serve of corn, a half serve of nachos and one burrito for $18. Arriba!

Sezar

Tucked down Melbourne Place in the CBD, Sezar is well-known for its super tasty Armenian-inspired menu – think crispy potato and soujak kofte, chicken wings with pomegranate glaze and chermoula zucchini with yogurt (their cheekily named cocktails are excellent too!). While we love dinner and drinks at Sezar, we’re also big fans of their CBD lunch special – a $24 chef’s selection that includes a selection of Sezar’s most famous dishes. The best part is that it can be tweaked to suit any dietary requirements, or even just your taste preferences. Plus, for an extra few dollars, Sezar will add a hearty serve of baklava to seal the lunch deal. Winner, winner.

Paperboy Kitchen

What started off as a Vietnamese foodie pop-up has turned into a permanent restaurant and a kick-ass spot for lunch in the CBD – yup, we’re talking about Paperboy Kitchen on Little Lonsdale Street! Apart from offering one of Melbourne’s best banh mi rolls (with a variety of fillings, mind you!), Paperboy Kitchen also dish up droolworthy rice noodle bowls – all kinds of nomness right here, Listers! The hardest part is choosing between fillings, think BBQ Chicken, Satay Tofu, Pulled Lamb & Hoisin, and more. With generous servings and freshly cracked coconuts to complement the food, it’s no surprise there are lines out the door come lunchtime.

Thaiger

Our roundup of Melbourne CBD lunch spots we’re loving right now wouldn’t be complete without Thaiger, a gourmet Thai burger joint responsible for some of Melbourne’s best burgers (yep, we’re calling it!). The menu here is EPIC – full of contemporary burger combos that are as kooky as they are delicious…and boy oh boy, are they delicious! Take your pick from burgers such as the 'Pou-Nim' Black Burger with soft shell crab, Granny Smith apple Asian slaw and sweet and tangy dressing, the Chick-Chick Bang Bang with crispy chicken fillet, Thai sweet chilli mayo, lettuce, tomato and egg, and many, maaaany more (like we said, the menu is epic!). Add some Thaiger fries and a Thai Iced Coffee and you’re all set for lunch! Dig in.

Who do you think does the best lunch in the Melbourne CBD? Email us with any that we’ve missed!

Image Credit: Nick West for The Urban List

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